Hook for forming slip hitches in cables or the like



April 4, 1950 L. G. EHMANN HOOK FOR FORMING SLIP HITCHES IN CABLES OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1947 INVENTOR.

April 4, 1950 2,503,11

L. G. EHMANN HOOK FOR F0 NG SLIP HITCHES IN CAB OR THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcs HOOK FOR FORMING SLIP HITQHES IN CABLES OR THE LIKE Leslie vGr. ,Ehmann, Portland, @Oreg assignor to Electric Steel Foundry,; Portland, 'Orcg -;a corporation. of Oregon Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,285

10 Claims. (01. -294=-.- .ZA)

flihis :invention relates to hooks for forming hook-adaptedeasily to be threaded onto a cable slip hitgmes-in:cablesor the like as, for instance, from either of :two sides and, in either instance;

in guy lines of a type adapted to use inthe logto assumega properloperating position vwhen the gingindustry and-the like. end of =-the cable ;is connected thereto and the Although in general appearance and some ascable is tightened. spects t-heystructuite'ofthe disclosed hook isiquite It is a further object of'this invention taprosimilarrtothosehooksknown as choker-hooks, vide -a guy -line hook adapted to the formation the two types of hooks are-adapted to different of fiacable hitch-and so constructed that it may usesandvto use underdiiferent conditions Thus, be threaded onto a ferruled ;guy line cable and the differences ofstructure between the two types properly connected thereto :iorthe --formation of, of hooks are important in adapting each -to its a slip loop extending around a spar tree in either intended-use and type'of'service. direction. I

For example, and by .wayof comparison, both Other objectsandadvantages of theinvention tunes of hooks are .used with'a cablex-having a will beapparent-irom the following description ieriiule onthe'end'thereof,Whichierruleconnects if) andthe-accompanyingdrawinesin which similar with th ho k to for-mp, slip l op in th .cable. characters .of reference indicate similar parts However, the choker'ho0ks1are generallyused on throughout theseveral views. I theground, as, for-instance, in the formation of Inthetwo sheetsof drawings: hitches for dragging logs. :Insuchservice, and r v fra m n y p rspective vieWfl DiG to-avoid theirloss-vvhen not in use, they are semi- 20 in e iplo 16211 10 O a rp fif r form o permanently attached to theieable, iln that they hook to the formation of-a. s1ip'no ose. on..a sparwi11-not=s1ip off-of thecable-overthe ferrule. -On tree orthe like fonsecuringthe end of a guy line; the other hand, thepresently disclosed rhOQkS are Figs. -.2 and 3. are perspective views takensubadapted to suchuses as the makingof hitches stantially fromopposite sides'of the hook shown forjthevconnection cfiguy line cables to a spar i g fin erci zcable th s nd pertiie. Such'hitches are made high \onsthe'spar ating positions relative tothe hook are. indicated treesbyza -man,--knewn as.,a high climber, -.Who fra mentariiyin li andd t anddashlines; mushhold ontothe tnee while making -the-hitch. ,Figs. 4 1and,-,5 ..are, respectively, front and side- Eor-.thisse-rvice,-and for greater ease of-handling, elevational v views of .the guy .line hook shown in the hook is-desirably removable from the cable 30 Figs. 1 to 3; and I over the ferruleeami readily lplaceable thereon. Fig. Gisan end sectional viewrwhereimthe seclt is also importantthat when thehookis placed tionis taken substantially. one line 6.B ofFigA upon th cable, it .will assume its proper and and viewed in the direction indicated by rtho operativeposition relative to theqspan tree. without accompanying arrows. w the-exertion of .manualeflort ontheypartcfcthe The hook disclosed for illustrative purposes in high.climbenand withoutthe formation of kinks tl'ie accompanying drawings is one well suited-for in thecable. use-J y high -..,c1imbe,1fs in the attachment of .guy

Jlromthe foregoing discussionit'may. be readily lines to spa 1 5- Eorfii dotherllfi and, understood that it is a general object ,of this in o de to vo the nec ss ty o eyesp iG in invention to provide a hookparticularlysuited to =10 hegfiblfisnthfi di closedzhoo .isad pted to r ady use in the iormationof s1ip hitches in :cables, s parat onirom amapp catio tp a...ab have, guy lines and the like and at places in which n an fl m fa eninaelement, suchasa fierthe user is" working under handicaps. I l1 e secured l .1 he,. f .dl'1. lIO at h Q th slip As another'object (my inventioncomprehends 90 31 IO be-.,fo med' illfififiblfl thmprovisionpfahook for use-With-acable hav- .As d p cted i th variou .vi w i 'thea QQm1 lng a ferrule at-theend and which may -bereadily panyin drawin s, m ,prsislt d iorm of nec placed upon-and removed irom the cable .withas ane lisatedmetalli ,IQQ y 1. 11. 2 cutremova of the ferrule. sirablycast o elniece. Th s nera mntonr. of .=.Mypre n ention fur he s withi its he-J Qd -.l..,0. s irrasularand unsymmetrica ab ut punviewthe provision of a guy line hook adapted a y e l p1 n .,a1th i gh i ma be-.. =o ,1sid to be .threaded ontoa .ferruled cable, .guy.1ine eredfor reierencepurposes tohaveacentrallonrthe like and-so-construeted and arranged that gitudinal axifiras indicated-bytheline.LZ injfigs. it .willqe i tivelyfand readily assume vi p op 4,a d operationa -.p i .on w thout kink n the .c bl nn-ppe ia ncesi natad.s neral ylb th rein.-

rmthe r biectrofth i nven ionis to pr vide a ence minera .l nexteriqa a erall thr ugh body and along the centra1 axis with contours effectively of a shape formed by the gradual twisting thereof about the central axis to the extent that the opposite ends are preferably disposed in substantially right angular relationship to one another. In its general position relative to the body 10, the opening I3 is considerably closer to one end thereof than to the other.

Considered in another aspect, the opening l3 includes at one end thereof a through passage l4 located in the mid-portion of the body l and extending therethrough in one direction and transversely of the longitudinal axis. Adjacent one end of the body and extending therethrough in a direction transverse to the through passage M, as well as to the longitudinal axis [2, the opening l3 forms a slip-sleeve IS. The through passage I4 is adapted to use as a cable-threading opening and is, consequently, of a size sufficient freely and readily to pass around a fastening element such as a ferrule l6 secured to the end of a cable I! or the like, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The slip-sleeve I5, on the other hand, is, by preference, smaller than the through passage M to an extent that the cable I! will slide therethrough with relative freedom, but the ferrule It will not pass therethrough.

Intermediate the through passage and slipsleeve portions 14 and I5, respectively, the opening I3 is of sufficient size to pass the cable I! and opposed body surfaces I 8 and [9 which partially define the complete opening l3 are smoothly curved to effect a gradual turning movement of the hook body relative to the cable I! as the cable passes from the through passage M to the slipsleeve [5. In addition to the smoothly curved inner surfaces l8 and I9, the opening I3 is partially defined at oppositely disposed edges by smoothly curved and preferably rounded edge surfaces 20 and 22, which edge surfaces are shaped cooperatively to assist and merge with the opposed inner surfaces and to coact with the cable H for eifecting the turning movement of the hook body as the cable passes longitudinally of the opening I3 from the threading passage to the slip-sleeve.

In addition to being disposed in a direction lateral to the through passage M, the slipesleeve l desirably has its opposite end portions curved in a direction extending along the longitudinal axis l2 and away from the major portion of the body and through passage l4. Thus, the slipsleeve is curved and flared outwardly to follow somewhat the natural curvature of the cable in use and so as to avoid binding and the formation of sharp bends in the cable as it is drawn tight. In order to avoid the use of excessive metal and the resultant additional weight. the end 23 of the body is bowed to follow the curvature of the slip-sleeve. In addition to the aforementioned curvature, it is also my preference that the body In flare outwardly somewhat at opposite sides 2 and 25 to increase the total length of the slipsleeve because in many instances, and as depicted in Fig. 1, the cable engages only one end portion of the slip-sleeve at a time.

From the foregoing description of the opening l3, through passage 14, and slip-sleeve IE, it may be readily understood that the cable I! with the ferrule l6 attached thereto may be threaded through the through passage 14 in either direction, one direction of threading being depicted in solid lines in Fig. 2, and the other direction of threading being indicated in dot and dash lines at Ma and Ila in Fig. 3. In either instance the movement of the cable longitudinally of the body through the opening l3 effects a turning movement of the hook body until the hook reaches a position in which the cable passes through the slip-sleeve as depicted in solid lines in Fig. 3 and in dot and dash lines at Ila in Fig. 2. It may be further understood that when the cable is initially threaded through the through passage 14 in one direction, a slip-noose formed by puting the cable around a spar tree or the like in one direction will result in the hook being suspended in the same direction as when the initial threading of the cable through the through passages in the opposite direction and the cable is put around the tree the other way.

In order to eifect the formation of a slip-noose in the cable, it is necessary to anchor the end of the cable to a complementary end of the hook after the cable is threaded into the slip-sleeve. For this purpose, and when fastening means such as the ferrule I6 is secured to the end of the cable It, I prefer to provide a ferrule-receiving socket 25 in the end of the body Ill opposite the slipsleeve 15 and adjacent the through passage [4. Also, by preference, the socket 26 is substantially cylindrical with an axis substantially parallel to and somewhat offset to one side of the hook to the longitudinal axis l2, and has a ferrule-retaining end shoulder surface 2! at the end thereof opposite the through passage M. The socket 25 opens into the through passage M on the side thereof opposite the slip-sleeve.

At the side of the socket 26 toward which the axis thereof is preferably displaced from the longitudinal central axis l2 of the hook, an axially extending slot 28 opens into the socket and extends through a lower end portion 29 of the hook body to pass and accommodate the cable when the ferrule is disposed in the socket with the cable extending outwardly in an axial direction therefrom. The axial slot 28 opens into the through passage l4, and although it is of sufficient size for the cable to be passed therethrough, it is narrower than the ferrule so that when the ferrule is disposed in the socket in the position shown in Fig. 3, it is normally and releasably held in that position. The sizes and proportions of the through passage l4 and socket 25 are so related with the length and diameter of the ferrule 16 that when the cable is threaded through the through passage in either direction, a retraction and axial tilting movement of the cable will result in the seating of the ferrule within the socket.

The disposition of the socket 25 at the end of the hook body remote from the slip-sleeve and the necessary mass of metal at the socket end of the hook have a tendency to locate the center of gravity of the hook nearer the socket end thereof than to the slip-sleeve end. Consequently, when the hook is threaded onto a cable, it has a normal tendency to assume a position as a result of the action of gravitational force in which the cable extends through the slip-sleeve end of the hook. Also, when the hook is swung around the slip-sleeve end for connection to the ferruled cable end, as shown in Fig. 1, to form a noose about a spar tree, the normal tendency of the socket and of the hook is to fall downwardly. Hence, itis by preference that whether the loop extends around the tree in one direction or the other, the hook should be initially threaded vonto the cable in :a direction such that the :slot '28 :faces downwardly for receiving the ferruled end of :the :cable. This may -be accomplished, as previously explained, by keeping the direction of the initial lthreading of the cable through the through passage 44 in a direction consistent with the direction in which the'cable is placed around the tree for the formation of'a loop.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention,- many modifications may be made 'withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and *1 do =not w-ish to be limited to the precise details of construction'set forth,'but desire 'to avail myself of allxchanges "within the scope of the appended "claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire "to secure by Letters Patent of the United*States'is:

1. A hook for forming slip hitches in a cable or the like and for use witha-cablehaving a ferrule of largerdiameter than the cablesecured to one end thereof'and'com pr'ising,"in combination, a somewhat elongated "metallic body having 'a central longi udinal axis, an opening 'of irregular shape extending through said body nearer one end thereof than'the-other'and including a slip-sleeve portion at and extending :across one end of the body'and'of'asize smaller than the ferrule and large enough for the cable readily 11 to slide through, said slip-"sleeve portion being transverse tosaid longitudinal axis and curved longitudinally 'of the axis and away from the major portion of the body, said opening also including a through passage tin the mid-portion of the'body of a size larger than'said ferrule and having an axis substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and to'the slip-sleeve portion, said body having smoothly curved edges and surfaces adjoining and defining said .opening, said body also having at the end oppositethe slip-sleeve portion a socket portion slotted axially of the body at one sitle'topassthe cable,.said socket portion opening into said .through passage axially of the body and being of asize to receive and retain said ferrule and the curvatures of said edges and surfaces being such .that when the hook is threaded onto the cable by passing the ferrule and cable through said through passage those edges and surfaces will effect a turning movement of the hook as the cable passes from the through passage tothe -slip-sleeve portion of said opening.

2. A hook for forming "slip hitches in a cable or the like and for use with a cable having anone-endthereof than the .otherand including-a slip-sleeve ,portionat and extending across one end of the body and of a size .smallerthanthe anchoring means and large enough for the cable readily to slide through, said slip-sleeve portion being transverse to said longitudinal axis and curved in a direction longitudinal to the axis and away from the major portion of the body, said opening also including a through passage in the mid-portion of the body of a size larger than the anchoring means and having an axis substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and to the slip-sleeve portion, said body having smoothly curved edges and surfaces adjoining and defining said opening, said body also having at the end opposite the slip-sleeve wportion :means for releasably connecting the .end of thevrcable to the body, and :the curvatures of said edges and surfaces being such that when the hook iswthreaded onto the cable bypassing the ferrule andcable through said through passage those edges and surfaces effect-aturningmovement of the hook as the cable passes from the through passage to the slip-sleeve portionof said opening.

3. In a hook for forming slip'hitches ina cable or the like and for use with a cable having a ferrule secured to one end thereof, the combination comprising an :elongated metallic body having a central longitudinal axis, an opening of irregular shape extending "through said .body nearer one endthereof than the other and including a slip-sleeve portion at and extending across one end ofthe body and of a size smaller thanthe ferrule and large enough for the cable readily to slide through, said slip-sleeve portion being transverse to said longitudinal axis and curved in a direction longitudinal to the axis and away from the major portion-of :the body, said opening also including a .through passage in the mid-portion of the body of a size larger than said ferrule 'and having an axis substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and to the slip-sleeve po-rti0n,=said body having smoothly curved edges and surfaces adjoining and defining said opening, and the curvatures of said edges and surfaces being suchthat when the hook is threaded onto thecable by passing the ferrule and cable through said through passage those edges and surfaces effect a turning movement of the hook as 'thecable passes from the through passage to the slip-sleeve'portion of said opening.

4. Ahook for forming slip hitches in a cable or the like and foruse with a cable having a fer-" rule of larger diameter than the cable on one end thereof and comprising, in combination, a somewhat elongated metallic body having a central longitudinal axis, said body having an opening of irregular and smoothly curved contour extending laterally therethrough at a position nearer to one "end than the other of the body, said opening being effectively in the shape of a slot elongated longitudinally of the body and gradually twisted'from oneend'to the other about said longitudinal axis sothat the two ends thereof are disposed in "substantially right angular relationship to one anothenone end of said slot being larger than .the'other, the larger end of the slot being. of sufficient size for "the ferrule tobe passed therethrough, the smaller end of the slot being smaller than the ferrule and sufficiently large to form a slip-sleeve ,for the cable, the smaller end of the slot also being curved-at each end in the direction of said longitudinal axisand away from the larger end of the slot, said body also having therein at the end opposite said slipsleeve and adjacent the larger end of said slot =,a ferrule-retainingsocket opening 'into the larger endof said slot and shaped .to. engage and hold the ferrule with the cable extending 'longitudi nally of said longitudinal axis, and a longitudinal slot extending into said body at one side of the socket for the passage and accommodation of the cable when the ferrule is placed in and removed from said socket.

5. A hook for forming slip hitches in a cable or the like and for use with a cable having anchoring means larger than the diameter of the cable on one end thereof and comprising, in combination, an elongated metallic body having a longitudinal axis, said body having an opening of irregular and smoothly curved contour extending laterally therethrough at a position nearer to one end than the other of the body, said Opening being effectively in the shape of an elongated open slot gradually twisted from one end to the other about said longitudinal axis so that the two ends there of are disposed in substantially right angular relationship to one another, one end of said slot being larger than the other, the larger end of the slot being of sufficient size for the anchoring means to be passed therethrough, the smaller end of the slot being smaller than the anchoring means and sufiiciently large to form a slip-sleeve for the cable, the smaller end of the slot also being curved at each end in the direction of said longitudinal axis and away from the larger end of the slot, said body also having at the end opposite said slip-sleeve means for connecting with and releasably holding the anchoring means.

6. In a hook for forming slip hitches in a cable or the like, the combination comprising an elongated metallic body having a longitudinal axis, said body having an opening of irregular and smoothly curved contour extending laterally therethrough at a position nearer to one end than the other of the body, said opening being efiectively in the shape of an elongated open slot gradually twisted from one end to the other about said longitudinal axis so that the two ends thereof are disposed in substantially right angular relationship to one another, one end of said slot being larger than the other, the smaller end of the slot providing a slip-sleeve for the cable, the

smaller end of the slot also being curved at each end in the direction of said longitudinal axis and away from the other end of the slot, said body also having at the end opposite said slip-sleeve a relatively heavy portion tending normally to swing that end downwardly when the hook is placed on a cable which extends through said opening, thereby tending normally to effect the suspension of the hook from the slip-sleeve end, and means for anchoring the end of a cable to the heavy end portion of the hook.

7. In a hook for forming slip hitches in a cable or the like, the combination comprising an elongated metallic body having a longitudinal axis. said body having an opening of irregular and smoothly curved contour extending laterally therethrough at a position nearer to one end than the other of the body, said opening being effectively in the shape of an elongated open slot gradually twisted from one end to the other about said longitudinal axis so that the. two ends thereof are disposed in angular relationship to one another, the end of the slot which is nearer the adjacent end of the body providing a slip-sleeve for the cable, and the last mentioned end of the slot also being curved at each end in the direction of said longitudinal axis and away from the other end of the slot.

8. In a hook for forming slip hitches in a cable or the like, the combination comprising an elongated metallic body having a longitudinal axis, an opening of irregular shape extending through said body nearer one end thereof than the other and including a slip-sleeve portion at and extending across one end of the body, said slipsleeve portion being transverse to said longitudinal axis and curved longitudinally of the axis and away from the major portion of the body, said opening also including a through passage in the mid-portion of the body having an axis substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and to the slip-sleeve portion, said body having smoothly curved edges and surfaces adjoining and defining said opening, and said body also being flared outwardly between the through passage and the slipsleeve portion so that the slip-sleeve portion is materially longer than the through passage.

9. In a hook for forming slip hitches in a cable or the like, the combination comprising a metallic body having therein in adjacent relationship a threading opening and a slip-sleeve disposed with axes in spaced and substantially right angular relationship to one another and together comprising a completely closed cable receiving loop, said slip-sleeve being smaller than the threading opening, said body being open and smoothly curved between the threading opening and slip-sleeve to provide curved edges and opposed surfaces so relatively disposed that the cable will pass therethrough in various positions varying angularly in transverse planes without binding and while said surfaces and edges cam the hook to a position for free sliding movement along the cable.

10. In a hook for forming slip hitches in a cable or the like, the combination comprising a metallic body having a longitudinal axis, said body having an opening of irregular and smoothly curved contour extending therethrough in a direction lateral to the longitudinal axis, said opening being effectively in the shape of an elongated open slot gradually twisted from one end to the other about said longitudinal axis so that the two ends thereof are disposed in angular relationship to one another, one end of the slot providing a slip-sleeve for the cable, and the last mentioned end of the slot also being curved at each of its ends in the direction of said longituriinal axis and away from the other end of the S10 LESLIE G. EHMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 852,073 Mitchell, J. R Apr. 30, 1907 917,738 Opsal Apr. 6, 1909 1,391,457 Buckley et al. Sept. 20, 1921 1,464,162 Wirkkala Aug. '7, 1923 1,764,135 Young June 17, 1930 1,959,985 Moll May 22, 1934 

